Letter to the editor: Nelsen, Dorsey should condemn Berkeley riots or resign

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President Nelsen and ASI President Dorsey,

During the last couple of months both of you have been very vocal on political events across this nation. You have stated your own opposition to: President Trump, his policies, and you have even gone so far as to attack the modern conservative movement as a whole.

After last night’s protest at UC Berkeley and the protest that occurred a couple of weeks ago not to far from us at UC Davis, I ask you as the Chair of the College Republicans at Sacramento State, do you both unequivocally disavow the UC Davis and UC Berkeley protesters?

Free speech is a fundamental right for our society, but violence is never the way. If you do not take a stand against this violence, we will be forced to ask for both of your resignations.

Many conservative students have already do not feel safe on your campus, so I am asking you please take a stand against bigotry and hate.

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in a moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

8 Comments

8 Responses to “Letter to the editor: Nelsen, Dorsey should condemn Berkeley riots or resign”

Michelle on
February 3rd, 2017 2:53 pm

This neglects the realization that the violence was not from the student protesters, but by individuals who purely wanted destruction. They carried their destruction beyond the protests to other areas of Berkley because they were not protesters. Should the Presidents speak on the violence, sure. It’s a relevant discussion for California colleges. But asking for their resignation is an aggressive reach for the College Republicans to do, in my opinion. I’m sure there are significantly more students who fear their lives and safety because of the hate the current Presidential Admin has enacted and supported; a fear that conservatives cannot fathom. I hope that President Nelsen and President Dorsey do speak on the violence, and tell the whole story, unlike what Mr. Daniels did here.

Jose on
February 3rd, 2017 9:05 pm

My brother put it quite well:

“Yes, because conservatives are NOT the minority at colleges. Because conservatives are NOT the minority in pretty much the entire country. Because they’re not surrounded by radicals who would destroy their lives professionally and socially for their opinions. Because they’re not surrounded by radicals who would do them PHYSICAL HARM for their opinions.

Yes, conservatives have no idea what fear you could possibly be feeling.

Except conservative fears are actually justified since the fears about Trump are all based on rhetoric from the left rather than action from Trump, who thus far has done exactly as he said he would. None of which has been far from what the previous administration did during its reign.”

In short, stop playing the victim.

Jamier Sale on
February 3rd, 2017 4:17 pm

This is rediculous. You will complain about property damage but not people’s lives being put at risk by the Trump administration. Please reconsider your priorities.

M on
February 3rd, 2017 4:37 pm

Dear Mason Daniels:

I ask you, as the President of the Sacramento State College Republicans: Do you unequivocally disavow the Milo supporter who shot a protester in Washington state? Do you unequivocally disavow the bigoted and hateful language and behavior of Donald Trump? Do you realize that the protest at UC Davis was non-violent? Do you realize that the agitators at UC Berkeley were a known group of anarchists unaffiliated with UC Berkeley, who routinely disrupt protests of any kind and that the UC Berkeley students had no control over them? Do you know that the UC Berkeley community cleaned up the streets after the anarchists left? Do you know that you have every right to free speech, but so does everyone else (and that peaceful protesting falls under that right)?

-M

Tammy Lauren on
February 4th, 2017 10:24 am

This just sounds like a snowflake crying about safe spaces now that he feels threatened.

Indiana on
February 4th, 2017 6:16 pm

I think it is absurd for this letter to include a quote from MLK Jr. to condemn protests. Is it not he who said a riot is the language of the unheard?

I salute Nelsen and Dorsey for making efforts to ensure the safety and comfort of all students, especially those most vulnerable to discrimination, violence, and xenophobic attack. U.S. citizens are not persecuted here for whiteness, Christianity, or heterosexuality, but we have a detailed past and present history of attacks and even murders against people of color, members of the LGBT community, and individuals with non-Christian belief systems. This modern witch-hunt demeans us all and damages our democratic integrity.

President Nelsen was not elected by students to represent them. He was appointed to serve and protect the interests of all students. To ask for his resignation in this way demonstrates a great deal of hypocrisy and privilege.

Republican club of Sacramento State, please examine your hearts. There is room for all of us at the table. Turning away refugees and immigrants doesn’t protect your lives, it protects your prejudice. Rolling out anti-LGBT legislation doesn’t make our country any holier or straighter. It just hurts people who are trying to live their lives.

In closing, look to the Golden Rule, a common sentiment in many cultures, which encourages us to treat others how we would wish to be treated. That is the dream of freedom our country was founded on.